10 May 2014, in its annual exhibition focusing on experimental, contemporary inkwash painting, Today Art Museum will hold an opening ceremony for “Kai Men—Wang Tiande Solo Exhibition” in Building 1 Floor 2. As a contemporary practitioner of inkwash painting, Wang Tiande has a thorough background in the medium’s history but has never adhered strictly to its traditional forms. Striving for “artistic concept”, his figures and painterly language breakthrough the limitations of traditional methods. Using thin, soft paper to create rubbings that piece together ancient paintings, the artist uses his keen sense of perception to bring multiple elements into a single painting, consciously or otherwise exploring artistic production.

　　Wang Tiande’s exploration of form in inkwash painting has moved through the “Circle Series”, “Fans”, “Ink Wash Menu”, “Number Series” and “Picture of Ushiroyama”. The concept of space in his inkwash paintings can be likened to relief sculpture. In 2014, Today Art Museum’s “Open the Door—Wang Tiande Solo Exhibition” will combine albums from the antiquities, calligraphy and contemporary art, including steles, ancient paintings and Concept art, in order to open the “door”, unraveling for all the mysteries and majesty of China’s ancient culture.

　　In the tablets and books, the artist uses a burning technique to replace traditional painting methods. Scorch marks become the lines and spaces of shanshui and calligraphy, for a result that is reminiscent of ancient tablets and scrolls that have eroded through time and hardship. Evoking and transforming the traditional is the basis of Wang Tiande’s artistic language. For example, Wang Tiande’s 2014 pieces in this exhibition--Zhang Zhao (1691-1745)—Taoyuan Xing, Xu Xing (1597-1645)—Cursive Auto-Verse— is creating a new narrative for his works. In “Kai Men” the artists’ biggest mystery remains the “conceptual door” he has opened through his production practice. This part utilizes the segmentation of the museum space to express the artist’s perceptions of history. One can experience the sorrow and helplessness of a traditional Chinese thinker faced with contemporary society. 

　　“Kai Men" is not only an innovation in contemporary inkwash painting, taking cues from abstraction. It is the final outcome of the artist's interrogation of the the medium in contemporary times, from painting to exhibition production. "Kai Men--Wang Tiande Solo Exhibition" will continue until May 26.